ABSTRACT ZHONG, HANTAO. Free-Flow Parclo Interchange Vs. the Cloverleaf Interchange with CD Roads and the All-Directional Four
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ABSTRACT ZHONG, HANTAO. Free-flow Parclo Interchange vs. the Cloverleaf Interchange with C-D Roads and the All-Directional Four-level Interchange: A Comparison of Geometrics, Construction Cost, and Right of Way Requirements (Under the direction of Dr. Joseph E. Hummer). This thesis introduces the free-flow parclo interchange, a new modification of the cloverleaf interchange, created by Mr. Antonio Loro. The free-flow parclo interchange contains no weaving sections, has right-hand side entrances and exits only, has two loop ramps, and requires as few as two bridges. The objective of this thesis is to provide a geometric design for the free-flow parclo interchange, mainly based on A Policy On Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, and use it to estimate the cost and right-of-way of the free-flow parclo interchange relative to standard designs. I designed the free-flow parclo interchange at three different ramp design speeds (30, 40, and 50 mph) and used 70 mph as the design speed for the mainlines. In the design process, the main purpose was saving the cost and right-of-way while ensuring the basic geometry and ramp pattern of the free-flow parclo interchange. To achieve this, I used straight bridges and avoided using retaining walls. I also chose proper deflection angles for the indirect ramps and used proper shapes of direct ramps to save the right-of-way. As a comparison, I also finished the geometric designs of cloverleaf interchanges with collector-distributor (C-D) roads and four-level interchanges using different design speeds. These two kinds of interchanges are good comparable targets since the free-flow parclo interchange is a modification of the cloverleaf interchange and the four-level interchange is the reigning champion of urban system interchange designs in the United States. After the geometric design, I did the right-of-way and cost comparison among the three kinds of interchanges at the three ramp design speeds. The costs mainly come from the structure costs of the bridges. The required rights-of-way of the free-flow parclo interchange, cloverleaf interchange with C-D roads, and four-level interchange range from 114 to 274 acres, 138 to 242 acres, and 75 to 130 acres, respectively. The structure costs of the free-flow parclo interchange, cloverleaf interchange with C-D roads, and four-level interchange range from $4.05M to $4.38M, $3.97M, and $8.5M to $15.6M, respectively. In addition, only the four-level interchange needed retaining walls. The free-flow parclo fell between the other two interchanges for cost and right-of-way, costing less than the four-level and needing less right-of-way than the cloverleaf with C-D roads. Overall, the new free-flow parclo has a promising niche in system interchange design, perhaps in suburban areas. Safety and capacity analyses of the free-flow parclo interchange should be good topics for future detailed study. Designers also can try different design strategies, such as curving bridge and different ramp patterns, to try to reduce the right-of- way needed. Finally, this I recommended several other modifications of the cloverleaf interchange that can be compared with the free-flow parclo interchange. These modifications require different numbers, heights, and lengths of the bridges, so the structure costs and required rights-of-way vary © Copyright 2012 by Hantao Zhong All Rights Reserved Free-flow Parclo Interchange vs. the Cloverleaf Interchange with C-D Roads and the All-Directional Four-level Interchange: A Comparison of Geometrics, Construction Cost, and Right of Way Requirements by Hantao Zhong A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Civil Engineering Raleigh, North Carolina 2012 APPROVED BY: _______________________________ ______________________________ Dr. Joseph E. Hummer Dr. George List Committee Chair ________________________________ Dr. Billy Williams BIOGRAPHY Hantao Zhong The author is from Qinghai province, China. He graduated in August 2010 with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Zhejiang University. Upon completing his undergraduate degree, the author began her Master of Science Degree Program in Civil Engineering at NC State, concentrating in transportation/traffic engineering. As an undergraduate, he participated in the structure competition of the Zhejiang University and got the 3rd prize. He also finished a SRTP (Student Research Training Project) research in the Zhejiang University of which topic is impermeability of concrete. As a graduate student, he started his full-time studying in August 2010. He also joined the ITE (Institute of Transportation Engineers) to gain his experience on transportation. The author is interested in transportation structure geometric design. With the help and advises of Dr. Joseph E. Hummer, the author determined his thesis topic in November 2011. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………..………………iv LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………………….vi INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………….. 1 LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………………... 6 Interchange Spacing ………………………………………………………………..... 6 Route Continuity and Lance Continuity……………………………………………... 6 Ramps Types and Consistent Ramp Pattern………………………………….….… 7 Ramp Widths and Ramp Acceleration/Deceleration Lengths………………………..10 Weaving Sections…................................................................................................11 Signing and Marking…………………………………………………….…………...12 Overpass or Underpass……………………………………………………………….13 Similar Designs………………………………………………………………..…….14 Summary………………………………………………………………………….…..21 FREE-FLOW PARCLO INTERCHANGE GEOMETRIC DESIGN……………………….22 CLOVERLEAF INTERCHANGE WITH C -D ROADS AND FOUR -LEVEL INTERCHANGE GEOMETRIC DESIGN………………………….…………………..….38 RIGHT-OF-WAY ESTIMATE METHODOLOGY AND COMPARISON………………49 COST ESTIMATE METHODOLOGY AND COMPARISON……………………...…….52 CONCLUSIONS………………………………………………………………………...….57 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH…………………………………….59 REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………......61 APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………………....63 Appendix A. Roadway Calculation 30 mph Ramp Design Speed……………….…..64 Appendix B. Roadway Calculation 40 mph Ramp Design Speed…………….……..65 Appendix C. Roadway Calculation 50 mph Ramp Design Speed……………….…..66 iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Collision rates in California…………………………………………………….. 9 Table 2 Four-level interchanges locations………………………………………………19 Table 3 Basic design parameters for the free-flow parclo interchange…………………23 Table 4 Design parameters for the free-flow parclo interchange horizontal alignment………………………………………………………………………..23 Table 5 Design parameters for the free-flow parclo interchange vertical alignment.......24 Table 6 Basic design parameters for cloverleaf interchange with C-D roads…………...38 Table 7 Design parameters for cloverleaf interchange with C-D roads horizontal alignment………………………………………………………………………..39 Table 8 Design parameters for cloverleaf interchange with C-D roads vertical alignment……………………………………………………………………….40 Table 9 Right-of-way calculation results (Acre)………………………………………..50 Table 10 Ramp pavement lane miles estimation…………………………………………54 Table 11 Free-flow parclo interchange and cloverleaf interchange with C-D roads structure estimation (square feet)…………………………………………….....54 Table 12 Four-level interchange structure estimation (square feet)……………………...54 Table 13 Structure cost estimation (2006 dollars)……………………………….. ……...55 iv Table 14 Distances from the center of the interchange to the end of the last taper comparison (feet)...............................................................................…………..56 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Typical cloverleaf interchange………………………………………………..… 3 Figure 2 Basic geometry of free-flow parclo interchange………………………………... 4 Figure 3 Types of ramps…………………………………………………………….……. 8 Figure 4 Typical cloverleaf interchange with C-D roads....................................................15 Figure 5 Four-level interchange………………………………………………………..…17 Figure 6 Slope gradient and measurements........................................................…………26 Figure 7 Indirect ramps in the free-flow parclo interchange……………………….…….27 Figure 8 Important sections of the indirect ramps………………………………………..28 Figure 9 Path length and right-of-way affect of the section I curves……………….…...30 Figure 10 Comparisons of simple curve ramp and spiral curve ramp……………………..31 Figure 11 Quadrant number of the free-flow parclo interchange……………………….....32 Figure 12 Direct ramp in quadrant IV...................................................................................33 Figure 13 Free-flow parclo interchange (30 indirect ramps)……………………………....35 Figure 14 Free-flow parclo interchange (40 indirect ramps)……………………….……...36 Figure 15 Free-flow parclo interchange (50 indirect ramps)……………………………....37 Figure 16 Cloverleaf interchange with C-D Roads (30 mph loop ramps and 40 mph direct ramps)…………………………………………………………………………..42 vi Figure 17 Cloverleaf interchange with C-D Roads (40 mph loop ramps and 40 mph direct ramps)…………………………………………………………………….…….43 Figure 18 Cloverleaf interchange with C-D Roads (40 mph loop ramps and 50 mph direct ramps)……………………………………………………………………..……44 Figure 19 Four-level interchange (30 mph ramps)……………………………………...…46 Figure 20 Four-level interchange (40 mph ramps)……………………………………...…47 Figure 21 Four-level interchange (50 mph ramps)…………………………………...……48 Figure 22 Example of slopestake line…………………………………………………...…49